Gaurab ’71 decries harassment of FF Latif Siddiqui

Gaurab ’71 has expressed strong outrage and condemnation over the incident in which valiant freedom fighter (FF), former minister and member of parliament Abdul Latif Siddiqui, along with 15 others, was held hostage for a long time and later handed over to police. The organization termed the incident as a “planned mob attack” and alleged that “anti-liberation, Jamaat–Shibir-backed circles” were behind it.

Gaurab ’71 placed three immediate demands, in addition to the arrest of those involved: ensuring the security and dignity of freedom fighters, restoring freedom of speech, the right to expression, and a democratic environment without delay, and adopting a “zero tolerance” policy against mob violence and political terrorism.

On Thursday (28 August), Abdul Latif Siddiqui, who came to attend a roundtable discussion, and 15 others including Dhaka University Law Professor Sheikh Hafizur Rahman Karzon, were confined for hours and later handed over to the police by a group of youths identifying themselves as “July Fighters.” The roundtable discussion, titled “Our Glorious Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh,” was organized by Mancha ’71 at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU).

In a statement signed by General Secretary F. M. Shahin, Gaurab ’71 said, “This is not just a barbaric assault on a freedom fighter but also on the spirit of the Liberation War, on democracy, and on freedom of speech. Mob violence and state repression are now being used as key weapons to make the country unsafe for dissenting voices and to silence opposition.”

The statement further alleged, “The unlawful confinement, humiliation, and false accusations against freedom fighters, teachers, and journalists before handing them over to the police is not an isolated incident. Rather, it is part of a broader conspiracy by anti-liberation and pro-Razakar forces. This is a grave threat to freedom of expression and democracy.”

Gaurab ’71 also alleged, “Freedom of speech and democratic rights are being completely stripped away. Mob violence and police repression are being systematically used to silence journalists, teachers, freedom fighters, students, and the general public. The honor of freedom fighters is being destroyed to pave the way for rehabilitating the Razakar clique.”

Pledging resistance against anti-liberation forces at cultural, political, and social levels, Gaurab ’71 declared, “The evil forces against Bangladesh will never find a place in this land by insulting freedom fighters, snatching away freedom of speech, and destroying democracy.”